"I believe so,"Blair confidently responded when questioned about the All Blacks' chances in the upcoming four-Test series against the Springboks, famously known as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Blair highlighted the depth and quality of the South African squad, noting their ability to rotate players seamlessly. "They’ve mixed and matched their teams without seemingly skipping a beat," he admitted, signaling the Boks' strategic prowess under coach Rassie Erasmus, who has successfully integrated newcomers throughout the Nations Championship.
However, Blair remains optimistic about New Zealand’s prospects, stressing the necessity for the team to continue its evolution.
"It's going to be a big step up for us, so we’re going to have to evolve and improve again."This improvement is central to their strategy to end South Africa's recent run of dominance.
The All Blacks are not just facing a tough opponent but also a demanding tour schedule. Balancing team continuity with giving players chances to prove themselves is a tricky task. “Our challenge is how we get the guys rugby, how we get cohesion,” Blair explained. He highlighted the dual goals of maintaining a cohesive test group while offering enough players the opportunity to impress.
Blair also shed light on the broader challenges the team faces, encompassing the logistical and psychological battles of touring. “There’ll be, I’m not too sure, 80-ish of management and players and stuff, and it’ll be literally us against the rest of South Africa, so we’ll have to be tight,” he noted, underscoring the 'us-against-them' scenario they anticipate.
The tour is structured as follows: It kicks off against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, August 7th, followed by a matchup against the Sharks at Kings Park in Durban on August 11th. The team then faces the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on August 15th. The high-stakes matches against the Springboks take place at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on August 22nd, followed by a game against the Lions on August 25th, another Springboks match at Cape Town Stadium on August 29th, the penultimate game at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on September 5th, and concluding in Baltimore at the M&T Bank Stadium on September 12th.
By understanding the weight of the challenge ahead and carefully planning their strategy, the All Blacks back themselves to put up a significant fight against the formidable Springboks. It's set to be an epic showdown in one of rugby's greatest rivalries.
